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THE 

OOMPLETIOU 

OF 

TWO CENTURIES; 

A DISCOURSE PREACHED IN FAIRFIELD 
ON 

THANKSGIVING DAY, 

NOVEMBER 28, 1839. 
BY 

liYHAlV H. ATWATER, 

PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN FAIRFIELD. 
Lpoblished bt reqdest.] 



STANDARD OFFICE, 

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. 

1839, 



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SERJIIOIV. 

Psalm lxxviii. 4. 

IVe will not hide them from their children, shnwina- to the s-enera- 
tion to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and His won- 
derful xcorks that he hath done. 

In this passage and the context the P-salmist announces his 
purpose to narrate the dealinjrs of God with his people, in the va- 
ried vicissiiudes through which they had heen borne by his won- 
derworking providence and i^race. He thus indicates the inn. 
portance of ' not liiding,' or of rescuing from conceahnent and 
oblivion the important events in the past history of a people, that 
they may stand forth as beacons for the guidance of present and 
future generations. He says, ' I will utter dark sayings of old, 
which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us, 
*** that the generation to come might know theni, even the 
children which should be born, who should arise and declare them 
to their children ; that ihfiy might set iheir hope in God, and not 
forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.' 

The ' wonderful works' of God adverted to m the text, he pro- 
ceeds to narrate in the subsequent part of the Psalm. Thev con- 
sist o! his marvellous allotments to his ancient covenant people, 
appearing in alternate calamitous judgments and gracious deliver, 
ances, as it became needlul, to abase their pride, scourge their 
lusts, and punish their unbelief, or to recover them from despair, 
awaken gratitude, and rekindle faith in the goodness and veraci. 
ty of a covenant God. The deliverance out of the land ofE^ypt 
and the house of bondage, the forty years migration in the wild, 
erness, the drying of the Red Sea, the cloud by day and the pil. 
lar of fire by night, the dropping of manna from Heaven, the 
gushing forth of water from the smitten rock, with other signal 
interpositions of God, natural and supernatural, by which t he na- 
tion had been preserved ; these according to the Psalmi-?t ought 
to be heralded and blazoned before their posterity. Thus, and 
thus alone, would they know to what Being they owed their dis- 
tinguished benefits, by what methods he conveyed and secured 
them to their possession ; to whose favor they must look for fu- 
ture preservation and prosperity ; and by what means that favor 
could be propitiated. 
Of the salutary influence of such a retrospect of the past histo. 



ry of a people of noble origin, there can be no doubt. It tends to 
suffocate pride and nourish humility ; to inspire a generous rev- 
erence and healthful emulation of ancestry ; to awaken a live- 
ly spirit of gratitude to and dependence upon the giver of all 
good : to allay despondency and kindle salubrious hope : in fine, 
to instruct, admonish and comfort us in the path of duty and the 
cause of God and truth. 

The present year completes two hundred since this town was 
settled. In accordance with the spirit of these introductory ob« 
servations, it was my intention to have prepared and delivered on 
some fit occasion, an historical discourse, containing an accurate 
account of all important and interesting events pertaining to the 
town, which have occurred from its settlement until the present 
time. But this design has been frustrated by various causes. — 
Without obtruding upon your attention those of a more immedi- 
ately personal nature, it is enough to say that it is doubtful wheth- 
er any town or parish of such antiquity and respectability as this, 
is afflicted with such a paucity of materials, out of which any his- 
tory at all accurate, authentic and complete can be gathered. — 
The town records do not begin until some years subsequent to 
its settlement, of which they give no account : and as they relate 
almost entirely to conveyances of property and ordinary town bu- 
siness, but little can be gleaned from them respecting affairs of 
any public interest, during the first century of the town's exis- 
tence. The parish and church records extend but a little more 
than a century back, and to a great extent, discover the same 
poverty, as regards any important historical facts. There are 
no historical discourses or century sermons extant, if any were 
ever published, such as are found in most towns, prepared by 
men living in the midst of the events they narrated, or in suffi- 
ciently close neighborhood to them, to authenticate them by sat- 
isfactory evidence. The traditions current among our elderly 
people are scanty and obscure, in regard to affairs prior to the 
revolutionary war. The materials for such a history therefore, if 
they exist, are so remote, scattered, buried in the recesses of an- 
tiquarian libraries, or under an immense mass of state papers, as 
to be inaccessible without a greater expenditure of time, money 
and labor, than I could reasonably afford. And it is doubtful 
whether the most enthusiastic antiquarian, after exploring all the 
sombre repositories of antiquarian lore, would so far as the early 
history of this town is concerned, gain much beside his labor for 
his pains. 

While on these accounts therefore, I have abandoned my first 
intention, of preparing an historical narrative of this town or par- 
ish, it has nevertheless seemed to me that so interesting a year 
as that which winds up the great cycle of two centuries in the ex- 
istence of a town, ought not to pass away without any such public 



notice or recognition, as will remind the people generally of the 
fact. And as this great cycle of history has been prolific of events, 
demanding our most fervent gratitude to the great Ruler of Na- 
tions and arbiter of their destinies : events in consequence of 
which we are permitted to enjoy this sacred festivity, and meet 
in this sanctuary of our fathers to offer up to the Giver of all 
good our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving ; it behooves us to 
make it the subject of grateful meditation : and to this end your 
attention is called for a short time, not to an elaborate address 
specially prepared for a great occasion, but to a few things put 
together during the time and in the way of an ordinary prepar- 
ation for the pulpit. 

America was discovered by Columbus, Oct. 12, 1492. After 
he communicated the intelligence to the Old World, it was more 
fully explored by the Cabots and others, who first discovered N. 
America. New l^ngland was first discovered in the year 1602. — 
In England there was a large body of people styled Puritans, 
because they contended for what they deemed greater purity of 
doctrine and worship, than then characterized the Church of 
England. They believed many of its rites and ceremonies to be 
unscriplural, and that it needed a still further reformation, before 
it could attain the simplicity and purity of the Scriptural Platform. 
Their doctrine, order and worship were substantially what we 
now adopt, for we have inherited them with little alteration. In 
that age, the great principle of toleration in religious diffierences 
was but little known. So much of the spirit and habits of Pope- 
ry yet remained, that in the Reformed Churches it was the cus- 
tom to wield the civil power for the purpose of suppressing all dis- 
sensions from the belief of the dominant party. The dissenters 
from the established Church in England were subjected to innu- 
merable persecutions, cruelties and civil disabilities, and this per- 
secuting spirit proceeded with such violence that two thousand of 
the most pious, learned and orthodox ministers of the realm were 
at last ejected from their livings, at one fell swoop, because they 
would not conform to the canons and ceremonies of the Church. 
The Puritans deemed themselves to dissent from the established 
Church, only so far as that was dissentient from the law of 
Christ, who in their view was sole and supreme Lord of the con~ 
science and to whom they felt bound to render allegiance, at what- 
ever risk of exciting the wrath and cruelty of earthly Potentates- 
Thus harassed in their own country, in the practice of what they 
believed to be the true and uncorrupted worship of God,they sought 
an asylum from their troubles on other shores. A company of 
them first fled to Leyden in Holland, a portion of whom came 
over to New England, and eftected the first permanent settle- 
ment of civilized men here. They landed in the year 1620, and 
named their settlement New Plymouth. The dangers and suffer- 



ings encountered by them almost stagger belief. They faced the 
horrors of an untried ocean, and of a howling wilderness, the 
home only of savages and ferocious beasts, rather than abide in 
pleasant homes, ai the cost of being molested, if nothing worse, 
in enjoying for themselves, and transmitting to posterity, a pure 
religion. 

Afterthis asylum of liberty ofconscience had once been open^ 
ed, it attracted the attention of the whole Puritan people in Eng- 
land, as the best refuge from their tribulations. They speedily 
came over in great numbers. Salem and Charlestown, Mass. 
were settled in 1629. Boston, Roxbury, Watertown, Medford, 
Weymou h and Dorchester, were settled the next year. Thus 
a Cew years witnessed a thick clust.ir of settlements springing up 
to cheer and strengthen the lone'y company who first planted 
themselves on Plymouth's bleak rock. 

Soon however Connecticut river, with the innumerable fish 
it embosomed, its navigalle qualities, its noble scenery and rich 
alluvial flats attracted the notice of the settlers. In a few years, 
some of the towns first settled in Massachusetts lecarae so 
densely populated that there was not land enough to accommo- 
date all the inhabitants. A portion of the people in Dorches- 
ter. Newtown and Watertovvn resolved therefore to locate 
themselves in Connecticut. In the suminer of 1635, they sent 
forward pioneers to explore and make a preliminary settlement. 
The next year, Hartford, Windsor and VVethersfield were regu- 
larly settled and organized, by the immigration of ministers, 
public officers and other iHadinj.^ men, some of whom were stars 
of no secondary magnitude. Hooker, Stone, Warham, Haynes, 
Ludlovv, will adorn New England's hi-tory, as long as it shall 
be preserved. Meanwhile the precaution had been taken to for- 
tify themselves against hostile incursions from the Dutch and 
others, by a fort at the mouth of Connecticut River within the 
present town of Saybrook. These towns were greatly annoyed 
by the hostilities of tht! Pequot Indians. They found that no 
peace or security could be hoped for, until the tribe was subdu- 
ed. In conjunction with forces volunteered from the other col- 
onies, they succeeded in vanquishing them. They pursued 
them tVom place to place until they surrounded them in the Sas- 
co swamp in this town, and forced them to surrender. Thus the 
tract of coast stretching from this place to Saybrook was explor- 
ed and began fo attract attention. 

Early in the spring of 1638, a company of high character head- 
ed by Rev. John Davenport, immigrated to this country from 
England. They wished to ("orm a community or state by them- 
selves, that they might conform not only the church, but the 
structure of civil government, to the model of the inspired Word. 
Hearing of the attractive features of this section of country, they 



selected Ne*v Haven as their location, and organized there an 
ecclesiastical and civil constitution in accordance with their pe- 
culiar views. In 1639, settlements were made at Milford and 
Guilford on the same plan of civil and ecclesiastical polilv as that 
of N. Haven, and as branches of that colony. 

The same year, says Trumbull, ' Mr. Ludlow, who went with 
the troops in pursuit of the Pequois to Sasco, tl»e great swamp 
in Fairfield, was so pleased with that fine tract of country, that 
he soon projected the scheme of a settlement in that part of the 
colony. This year, he, with a number of others, beoan a plania. 
tion at Unquowa, which was the Indian name of the town. At 
first there were but about eight or ten families. These probably, 
removed from Windsor with Mr. Ludlov/, the lirst principal plan- 
ter. Very soon after, another company came from VVatertown 
and united with Mr. Ludlow, and the people from VVindsor. A 
third company removed into the plantation from Concord — so 
that the inhabitants soon became numerous, and formed them- 
selves into a distinct township under the jurisdiction of Connect- 
icut. The first adventurers purchased a large tract of land, of 
the natives, and soon after Connecticut obtained charter privileg- 
es, the general assembly gave them a patent. The township 
comprises the four parishes, Fairfield, Greens Farms, Greenfield, 
Reading — and part of the parish of Stratfield.* The lands in 
this tract are excellent and at an early period the town became 
wealthy and respectable.' This is all that ran be found in Trum- 
bull concerning the original settlement. Hence it appears that 
this town was settled vvithin three years after the first civilized 
settlements in the state : when there were not as yet a half.do- 
zen communities planted : and that its settlers were from among 
that conscientious and intrepid body of man, who first exiled 
themselves into ihie wilderness as a refuge from persecution. It 
was settled in less than ten years after the towns from which its 
settlers emigrated had been first occupied by emigrants from Eni^- 
land : and unquestionably by the very men who originally came 
from the mother country. Unquestionably too, they were among 
the more resolute and intrepid of them. No others after having 
once effected a comfortable settlement, would be inclined to en- 
counter the hardships of a second migration, and subduing of an 
untamed forest. The first settlers here, Mr. Ludlow and his 
company, had located twice before, first at Dorchester, Mass. 
in 1630, then at VVindsor in this Slate in 163G, whence they re- 
moved to this place. It is slated that the sufferings of the first 
emigrants from Massachusetts to Connecticut beggar description. 
They journeyed with their families, cattle and effects through a 
vast trackless wilderness, with no manner of shelter, environed 

• Now Bridgeport. 



8 

with hordes of savage beasts and more savage men ; 'their path 
continually intersected by swamps and streams, which nothing, 
but the most indomitable courage and fortitude could surmount. 
After their arrival, they were overtaken with a famine which re- 
duced them to the very verge of death by starvation, in the depths 
of an unusually severe and protracted winter. Some were oblig- 
ed to flee back to their former abodes, and others to live on acorns 
and roots to preserve life. At such sacrifices was it, that this then 
black forest, was by degrees transformed into those opulent, 
tasteful, and happy villages, whose comfort we now enjoy, and 
whose celebrity has gone the circuit of the earth. 

A few words concerning this Mr. Ludlow, who was one of the 
master-spirits among the original Pilgrims, and was unquestion" 
ably the presiding genius of this town, for many years after its 
first settlement. He left the town and went to Virginia in 1654. 
So far as now appears, he was second to no man in the colonies 
in jurisprudence and statesmanship. He was leader of a dis- 
tinguished company that came over under the celebrated Mr. 
Warhara as their Minister, and settled in Dorchester, Mass., 
whence they both came to Windsor, Ct. VVhile in Massachu- 
setts, he was first appointed Magistrate, and then Deputy Gov- 
ernor of that colony. He was either Magistrate or Deputy 
Governor of Connecticut, during every year of his residence 
here. Says Trumbull, 'he rendered most essential services to 
this Commonwealth— was a principal in forming its civil Con- 
stitution ; and the compiler of the first Conn. Code, printed at 
Cambridge, in 1672.' * 

Such is a brief accountof the first settlers of Fairfield. They 
belonged to the company of the Pilgrim Fathers, and had their 
aims, principles and features of character. The following ob- 
servations of the venerable historian are therefore justly appli- 
cable to them. ' It will ever be the distinguishing glory of 
these colonies, that they were not originally formed for the pur. 
poses of trade or worldly enjoyment ; but for the noble purpo- 
ses of religion, the enjoyment of liberty of conscience in the 
worship and ordinances of God. The pious fathers of these 
colonies wished to enjoy the uncorrupted Gospel, administered 
in all its ordinances in purity and power ; and to transmit the 
mvaluable blessings of civil and religious liberty to their remo- 
test posterity. With these views they left their native country, 
their pleasant seats and enjoyments in Europe, and made settle- 
ments in the wilds of America.' All conversant with the facts, 
will confess this tribute just and by no means extravagant. How 

* The common report endorsed by Trumbull, that Mr. Ludlow, when he remo- 
ved from this place, abstracted the town records, is, I think, satisfactorily dispro- 
ved by Rev. Mr. Davies, in a note in the Appendix to his centennial discourse 
preached in Green's Farms on the last annual Fast. 



glorious that people that can trace itself to such an original ! 
How illustriously contrasted to the character of the founders of 
all other nations, who are mostly rude heathens and blood-thirsty 
warriors. Verily the Lord hath not dealt so with any nations, 
in giving them pious founders, whose end in instituting them, 
was solely the benefit of religion, and our distinction in privi- 
lege has been answerable to the distinction of our origin. 

As regards the secular history of this town I shall say little, 
because I have little to say. Having been nearly coeval with the 
first settlement of the country, of course it has sympathized and 
struggled with it in all general Colonial, State and National 
measures for the preservation and protection of our rights and 
liberties from the beginning. I am happy to observe, that from 
the first, it has exhibited a jealous and sagacious spirit of liberty 
tempered with a strong reverence for law, and a healthful sub- 
ordination to the powers that be ; so that we rarely find a more 
quiet, secure, orderly and law-abiding people, than remains here 
even to this day. At an early period, Fairfield moved in the 
General Court for an increase of jurymen from six to twelve. — 
The motion prevailed, and has been law ever since. 

Owing to its peculiar geographical position, this place has 
been obliged to endure an extraordinary proportion of the ex- 
pense, privation and misery of the various wars by which our 
liberties and rights have been purchased, and our property and 
security protected. For a long period the colonies were vexed 
with a series of Indian wars, betore they could be secure against 
the merciless incursions of a ravage, skulking and vengeful foe. 
In these, they shared in troubles and trials common to all the 
colonies, which were neither few nor light. In foreign wars, 
our naked and defenceless situation on the coast has made us 
peculiar sufferers. In a few years after the first settlement of 
New England, our Dutch neighbors were ambitious of gaining 
possession of the territory, and preventing the advances of the 
Brittanic sceptre over this continent. They, as was supposed, 
had well nigh matured a bloody plot with the Indians, for extir- 
pating the English colonies. This county, by its close contigui- 
ty to them, suffered most sensibly, under the working of their 
dreadful machinations. A general determination to make war 
upon them was aroused in the colonies, which was thwarted on- 
ly by the refusal of Massachusetts to comply with the decision 
of the General Commissioners of the Colonies, who were earnest 
for the war. This frustration of the enterprise greatly exaspe. 
rated the inhabitants of this county, and especially this town, who 
without the authority of the State, voted to carry on the war 
themselves, and enlist volunteers from other towns. They ap- 
pointed Mr. Ludlow commander-in-chief, and he accepted the 
office. This was probably a hasty step. The movement was 



10 

repressed by the higher authorities as insurrectionary. It is 
supposed that Mr. Lndlow removed on account of his dissatisfac- 
lion with the refusal of the coloiies to carry on the war, a mea- 
nuie in which he had been warmly engageJ, and the undesira- 
ble atiMiide in which his new and ill-starred office placed him 
before the people. 

iSiibseqijently, the people of this county were long harrassed 
and exhausted vvith the tedious French wars, which greatly aug- 
mented the burdens and hardships of a young and struggling 
people. 

Then in the war of the Revolution, the sufferin2;s and priva^ 
tions of the pftople were intense heyonrl description. Few 
places hore so large a proportion of the suffeririirs and sacrifices 
which finally won liberty and independence for the nation. — 
They early showed that their hearts were enlisted in the noble 
cause, by forwarding several hundred bushels of wheat and rye 
to Boston, the early theatre of the war, for the use of the sol- 
diery. The number in this vicinity, vvho at this late day draw 
pensions, shows ho\v extensively the people rallied to arms iti 
their country's cause. This however is but a trifling ingredient 
in the sacrifices to which they were subjected. The British fleet 
and army cotnminded by Gen. Tryon, after plunderinij New Ha- 
ven, landed here July 8th 1789. Their approach was so sud- 
den, that no efficacious resistance to their landing could be made. 
After appalling the body of the peoph; so that they fled away, and 
rudely pludcring whatever they could seize — regardless of rank, 
age, sex or condition ; they in a merciless, savage and inhuman 
manner, set fire to the dwellings of this beautiful and inoffensive 
Village. It is neither seasonable nor necessary to go into the 
details of this shocking scene. Thev are accurately described in 
a letter written by Mr. Elliott, the ilien Minister ol" this people, 
and published where it is accessible to all.* Suffice it to say, that 
with the exception of here and there an edifice spared by special 
favor, the whole villige from bridge to bridiie was a mass of smo- 
king ruins. Mr. Sayre, the Episcopal clergyman, who was iti 
the British interest, entreated Gen. Tryon first, to spare the town 
which was denied ; then to spare a few dwellings, so that a shel- 
ter might be left for the people, which was also denied ; he how- 
ever, finally procured a consent that the houses of worship, also 
of Rev. Mr. Elliott and the venerable mansion of Thaddeus Burr, 
Esq., standing on the present site Mr. Jones' house, should be 
saved from the general conflagration. * But,' says Mr. Filliott, 
' the rear. guard, consistmg of banditti the vilest that was ever 
lei loose among men, set fire to every thing which Gen. Tryon 
had leli — ihe large and elegant meeting house, the Ministers 

♦See Barber's Historical Collections. 



11 

houses, Mr. Burr's, and several others which had received pro. 
lection !' 85 dwellings, 2 churches, an elegunl court-house, 55 
barns, 15 stores, 15 shops, with much heside were destroyed. — • 
It was at a season when the wheat harvest h:id just been stored, 
and the sufferers were left therefore, not only without a slieher, 
but without fv)od. Their distress defies description. Conceive 
some ruthless invader to intrude now, and fire all the edifices of 
the village ; the families have idl retreated to yonder heii^hts for 
safety — mothers with group? of children around, perhips iiif.mts 
in their arms, look down from their elevation, and behold the 
heavens illumined by the flumes which are consuming their houjes, 
their food, their ruiment, iind every semblance of a shelter. And 
all this is aggravated by the all. pervading desolations of a war, 
which disables their countrymen from ministering any substan- 
tial relief. Nay, the sfiine brutal work of destruction is coing on 
apace, with melancholy swiftness in adjicent villages ! Does not 
the very imagination send through your bosoms a shuddering 
thrill ? Add to this, the following graphic portraiture from Dr. 
Dwight's travels. 'While the town was in flames, a thunder- 
storm overspread the Heavens just as the night came on. The 
conflagration of near two hundred houses illumined the earth, 
the skirts of the clouds, and the waves of the Sound, with an un- 
ion of gloom and grandeur, at once inexpressibly awful and mag- 
nificent. The sky speedily was hung with the deepest darkness, 
wherever the clouds were not tinged by the melancholy lustre of 
the flames. At intervals the lightnings blazed with a livid and 
terrible splendor. The thunder rolled above. Beneath the roa- 
ring of the fires filled up the intervals, with a deep, hollow sound, 
which seemed to be the protracted murmur of the thunder rever- 
berated from one end of the Heavens to the other. * * * * 
It needed no great effort of the imagination to believe that the 
final day had arrived.' Who, my hearers, can realize the suffer- 
ings by which these pleasant and salubrious abodes have been 
purchased for us? 

Thus houseless and homeless, reduced to poverty and distress, 
the inhabitants exhausted their resources and contrivance in pro- 
vidiiig some temporary shelter and means of subsistence for 
themselves. 'i'hey converted barrs and out-houses into d\vell. 
ings, or got a temporary lodgement in those fortunate houses 
■which escaperl the havoc of the flames. Many of them put up 
and occupied for years, as their only houses, until they became 
able to erect convenient dwellings, the buildings which now ex- 
tensively stand in the rear of our older dwelling houses in the 
form of small additions. Thus a day reduced an opulent and el- 
egant village to a poverty and insignificance, from which it has 
but lately fully recovered. Some are now living among us who 
witnessed and experienced the trials described. 



12 

The late war also, as all wars of necessity must, occasioned 
great distress among this people, on account of their interest 
in navigation and other causes, so that the return of peace was 
hailed b} a public feast, by bonfires, and illuminations. 

Verily then, this village has borne its full quota of the bur- 
thens of acquiring and defending our civil liberties and immu- 
nities. And considering its extent, it has been distinguished as 
the abode of a succession of illustrious men, whose sagacity and 
patriotism have served the interests of the state and nation, as 
they have in turn adorned and illuminated our halls of legisla- 
tion, and temples of justice. 

But the time urges me to a brief notice of things ecclesiasti- 
cal. As the end of our forefathers in settling here, was the 
protection and enjoyment of religion — so we may conclude they 
would not long remain unprovided with religious teaching and 
ordmances. Rev. John Jones was the first minister of this 
Church. He came from England to Concord, Mass., probably 
in the year 1736. For there is a record there, that he united 
with Rev. Peter Bulkley and others at that time in forming a 
Church in that town. He was probably colleague pastor with 
Mr. Bulkley, which seems to be implied in the following extract 
from a discourse of the Kev. Mr. Ripley, of Concord, preached 
Jan. 24th, 1793. 'Mr. Jones tarried there only two or three 
years, when he and near half the Ciiurch and people finding the 
place too scanty for the comfortable subsistence of so many, 
sold their possessions went to Connecticut and settled the town 
of Fairfield. * From this language I infer that they came here 
almost simultaneously with Mr. Ludlow and his company, prob 
ably by a previous understanding with him ; also, that this 
Church is coeval with the town, and has been blessed with a 
pastor from the beginning. From the town records it appears 
that his will was made Jan. 17th, and an inventory of his goods 
taken Feb 29th, 1664. His death therefore must have occur- 
red not far from Feb. 1st, 1664. I know of no productions 
which he has left, or of any other proofs by which we can 
judge of his comparative merits as a minister. Dr. Trumbull 
states that he was Episcopally ordained in England. From his 
bequeathing a set of the Fathers to his Son John Eliphalet; the 
fact that the ministers who first immigrated to this country, were 
generally distinguished for piety ; and that his son was much 
sought after by different parishes; it is reasonable to conclude 
that he was no second-rate man. This son was finally settled 
at Huntington L. Island, where he enjoyed a long and prosper- 
ous ministry. 

* This extract, together with the record in Concord, previously racntionetl, I 
take as I lind them, in letters from the late Hon. Silas Wood to Dea, Judson 
whose kindness in giving me access to this correspondence, 1 hereby acknowledge. 



13 

Rev. Samuel Wakeman was called to the pastoral office here 
by a full vote of the town, Sept. 30th 1665. He accepted the 
call and remained Pastor till his death, March 8th, 1692, about 
26 years. The town in a vote respecting his death, speak of 
this bereavement as being ' for a lamentation to them.' He 
was appointed by the General Court, a member of a committee 
of three, the first committee raised to consider and digest mea- 
sures for a uniform ecclesiastical constitution which was the 
first step in the process which ended in the adoption of the Say- 
brook Platform — a clear proof of the distinguished estimation 
in which he was held. 

In 1669, the town gave Mr. John Eliphalet Jones, son of their 
first pastor, a call to join Mr. Wakeman as colleague in the 
ministry. He however declined it. On the 31st of March 
1692, they called a Mr. Harreman, and made repeated solicit- 
ation to him 10 become their minister, as far as appears, howev- 
er, without success. 

They then called Mr. Joseph Webb by a vote passed July 
26th, on condition that he should satisfy them as to his senti- 
ments regarding baptism. They soon appointed a special com- 
mittee to enquire of him respecting his practice in this matter. 
They soon gave him a regular unconditional call, a few only 
being in the opposition. He was accordingly settled. He re- 
mained Pastor till his death in the summer of 1732 ; a space of 
about 40 years. He was one of the first fellows of Yale College 
to whom the charter was given, During his ministry the Say- 
brook Platform was adopted ; and he was evidently regarded as 
a pillar in the Churches. From the solicitude discovered by the 
town respecting his practice in the matter of baptism, it is man- 
ifest that the half way covenant then had obtained a foothold here. 

Rev, Noah Hobart, who had been thought of as a colleague 
to Mr. Webb in his old age, was called to be his successor in the 
Pastoral office, by vote of the Society, Oct. 30, 1732. For some 
years previous the Society had become distinct from the town, 
in consequence of the formation of other parishes within its lim- 
its. In the early records it is always styled the 'Prime Antient 
Society. Mr, Hobart died December fourth 1773. 

He was ordained Feb. 7th, 1733. His ministry therefore 
lasted about 40 years. He was a man of rare endowments, 
native and acquired. He was well versed in the learned lan- 
guages, deeply read in history, philosophy and theology. His 
preaching was sound, experimental and instructive. He pub- 
lished treatises in regard to several controversies which agita^ 
ted the Churches. His works now extant prove him to have 
been among the most eminent divines and powerful controver- 
sialists of his time. He was also a Fellow of Yale College, — 
During his ministry the meeting house was built which waa 



14 

consumed at the burning of (he town. It was probably comple- 
ted about the year 1750. It stood on the same foundations, and 
was of the same dimensions, plan and general structure as this 
edifice, although as I am informed, in somewhat richer style 
of architecture. 

Rev. Andrew Elliott, sonof thecelebrated Dr. Andrew Elliott, 
of Boston, was called to succeed Mr. Hobart, by vote, April 
4th, 1774, and ordained June 21st. He remained Pastor until 
his death, which occurred in the latter part cf the year 1805. 
He was a ripe scholar, a prudent, faithful, and beloved Pastor. 
The general depravation of morals consequent on the revolu- 
tionary war, spread its gangrene into a muhitude of parishes, 
rendering them deaf to the remonstrances of ministers, and 
frusti ating the efficacy of their ministrations. This difficulty in 
all its strength Mr. Elliott was obliged lo encounter. The min- 
isters since settled over this people, and dismissed, are now 
living and active, aP tilling with honor stations of importance 
or of distinction. Dr. Humphrey was ordamed April iGlh, 
1807, and dismissed Mav 15th, 1817. At the beginning of his 
ministry, the present confession of Faiih was adopted, and an 
end made eft he pernicious system of 'owning the covenant,' as it 
was si} led. Dr. Hewitt was installed Jan. 14th, 1818, and dis- 
missed Dec. 31st, 1827. Mr. Hunter accepted his call Dec, 2d, 
1828, and proposed a dissolution of tiie relation Dec. 21st, 1833, 
which was accordingly accomplished. The present incumbent 
was installed July 27ih, 1835. This sketch of our ecclesiasical 
aff'airs, suggests these remarks. 

1. This Church and Society have ever been careful to enjoy the 
labors of a settled Pastor among them. They have suffered no 
long and gloomy interval to elapse between the loss of one min- 
ister and the procurement of a successor. In no instance from 
the beginning, has the interval much exceeded two years, and 
ordinarily it has been but a few months. These ministers as a 
body have been a remarkably able, learned, orthodox, pious and 
exemplary body of men. Thus the people have shown that they 
appreciate a settled, solid, evangelical ministry, and lights of dis- 
tinguished lustre have shone in this candlestick. 

2. This Church and Society have through their entire existence 
been peculiarly blessed with peace, and free from internal and 
self-destroying dissensions. It is somewhat remarkable that all 
the Churches of the State whi h date back as far as this, Hart- 
ford, Windsor, Weathersfield, New Haven, Milford and Guild- 
ford, have been convulsed with bitter controversies and obstinate 
feuds, of such power, continuance and influence over other 
Churches, that Trumbull devotes to each a separate chapter of 
his History. There are no records or memorials of any incura- 
ble difficulties in this Church. It does not appear that the conso- 



15 

ciation was ever called, to heal any breach, or adjust any discord. 
The annals of few parishes present a current of affairs so uni- 
formly peaceful and happy. Long may this be our enviable lot — 
peace be wiihin our walls and prosperity within our palaces ! 

3. Few parishes have been more fully preserved in their pris- 
tine purity and integrity. Our borders are as little intruded upon 
by other sects : the primitive doctrine and practice of the Con- 
gregational Churches remain with as few changes ; the people 
as a body are as stedfast and unswerving in their attachment to 
them as is true of almost any community of the descendants of 
the Puritans. How far this is the fruit of the circumstances men. 
tioned under the two preceding heads, let who so is wise and un- 
derstands these things, judge. And herein above all, let us 
■with grateful and adoring homage acknowledge the loving kind- 
ness of the Lord. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 
He hath made and preserved us, and not we ourselves. Si'ot unto 
us — not unto us, but unto his great name be the glory. 

A few words by way of general conclusion — On a day set apart 
for thanksgiving and praise, in accordance with a sacred and time- 
honored custom, and the call of the Chief Magistrate, let us see 
to it, that we indeed give thanks to the Lord and forget not all 
his benefits. We are all, by his goodness, partakers of those 
incomparable civil and religious immunities which distinguish 
this nation from other nations. We have now reviewed some of 
the occasions of gratitude which are peculiar to this community. 
Let us not forget ihe exuberant fruitfulness which distinguishes 
the present season. The Lord has crowned the year with good- 
ness — His paths drop plenty. He openeth his hand and filieth 
the mouth of every living thing. He has kept us at peace with 
all nations and with ourselves. Let us then enter his gates with 
joy, and call upon our souls and all that is within us to praise and 
bless his holy name. Amen. 



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